Reaction of small heat-shock proteins to different kinds of cellular stress in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

Upregulation of small heat-shock proteins (sHsps) in response to cellular stress is one mechanism to increase cell viability. We previously described that cultured rat hippocampal neurons express five of the 11 family members but only upregulate two of them (HspB1 and HspB5) at the protein level after heat stress. Since neurons have to cope with many other pathological conditions, we investigated in this study the expression of all five expressed sHsps on mRNA and protein level after sublethal sodium arsenite and oxidative and hyperosmotic stress. Under all three conditions, HspB1, HspB5, HspB6, and HspB8 but not HspB11 were consistently upregulated but showed differences in the time course of upregulation. The increase of sHsps always occurred earlier on mRNA level compared with protein levels. We conclude from our data that these four upregulated sHsps (HspB1, HspB5, HspB6, HspB8) act together in different proportions in the protection of neurons from various stress conditions.     

Electrophoretic study of isozyme patterns in some wild populations of Aubrieta columnae Guss. (Cruciferae)

Aubrieta columnae Guss. is currently divided into three subspecies: A. columnae subsp. columnae, A. columnae subsp. italica, both found as isolated and fragmented populations in rocky habitats of Central and Southern Apennines (Italy), and A. columnae subsp. croatica found in the Balkan region. In order to gain information about the degree of genetic variability and to clarify taxonomic relationships among these taxa, we studied the isozyme patterns at 8 marker loci of 376 individuals from 8 populations by means of starch gel electrophoresis. Data analysis by using Wright's F-statistics and UPGMA clustering method was performed. The results show: 1) a general deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium within each subspecies; 2) a lesser genetic variation in populations occurring in habitats characterized by milder climatic conditions and relatively small seasonal variations; 3) a relatively high degree of differentiation between the three subspecies; 4) the possible common transadriatic origin of A. columnae subsp. italica and A. columnae subsp. croatica; 5) the possible origin of A. columnae subsp. columnae from A. columnae subsp. italica; and 6) that the current taxonomic status of A. columnae may be substantially confirmed, even if the findings are from a limited number of loci explored.     

Determination of field output correction factors of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeter and CC01 ionization chamber and validation against IAEA-AAPM TRS-483 code of practice

PurposeTo determine the field output correction factors of the radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeter (RPLGD) in parallel and perpendicular orientations with reference to CC01, the ionization chamber.MethodsThe dose to a small water volume and the sensitive volume of the RPLGD and the IBA-CC01 were determined for 6-MV, 100-cm SAD, 10-cm depth using egs_chamber user-code. The RPLGD in perpendicular and parallel orientations to the beam axis were studied. The field output correction factors of each detector for 0.5 × 0.5 to 10 × 10 cm² field sizes were determined. These field output correction factors were validated by comparing field output factors against data determined from IAEA-AAPM TRS-483 code of practice.ResultsThe field output correction factors of all detectors were within 5% for field sizes down to 0.8 × 0.8 cm². For 0.5 × 0.5 cm², the field output correction factors of CC01, RPLGD in perpendicular and parallel orientations differed from unity by 14%, 19%, and 5%, respectively. The percentage difference between field output factors determined using RPLGD and CC01 data, corrected using the field output correction factors determined in this work and measurements with CC01 data corrected using TRS-483, was less than 3% for all field sizes, except for the smallest field size of RPLGD in perpendicular orientation and the CC01.ConclusionsThe field output correction factors of RPLGD and CC01 are reported. The validation proves that RPLGD in parallel orientation combined with the field output correction factors is the most suitable for determining the field output factors for the smallest field used in this study.     

Small cardioactive peptide-like immunoreactivity and its colocalization with FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of the leech Hirudo medicinalis

Summary The distributions of small cardioactive peptide (SCP)- and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivities in the central nervous system of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis were studied. A subset of neurons in the segmental ganglia and brains was immunoreactive to an antibody directed against SCP_B. Immunoreactive cell bodies were regionally distributed throughout the nerve cord, and occurred both as bilaterally paired and unpaired neurons. The majority of the unpaired cells displayed a tendency to alternate from side to side in adjacent ganglia. A small number of neurons were immunoreactive only in a minority of nerve cords investigated. Intracellular injections of Lucifer yellow dye and subsequent processing for immunocytochemistry revealed SCP-like immunoreactivity in heart modulatory neurons but not in heart motor neurons. FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity was also detected in cell bodies throughout the central nervous system. A subset of neurons contained both SCP- and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivities; others stained for only one or the other antigen. These data suggest that an antigen distinct from FMRFamide is responsible for at least part of the SCP-like immunoreactivity. This antigen likely bears some homology to the carboxyl terminal of SCP_A and SCP_B.     

Emerging targets and new small molecule therapies in Parkinson’s disease treatment

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system. Due to a rapidly aging society worldwide, PD morbidity is on the rise; however, the treatment of PD with conventional drugs carries serious adverse reactions and cannot fix the root cause of PD, the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, which limits conventional drug usage in clinical practice. In recent years, research on the pathogenesis of PD and its clinical manifestations has led to the discovery of an increasing number of novel targets in PD, including several small molecule targeted compounds. In this paper, we analyze and summarize the most recently published PD literature and review several recently discovered novel targets in PD and their small molecule targeted pharmacologically active agents based on their mechanisms of action and pharmacodynamic profiles.     

Genetic structure, population size, and seed production of Pulsatilla vulgaris Mill. (Ranunculaceae) in Central Germany

Pulsatilla vulgaris Mill. (Ranunculaceae) is a rare and rapidly declining grassland community species that was once widespread at a time when Central Germany was covered by steppe vegetation. Through the course of this study, the patterns of random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) variation among 11 populations of varying size were analysed to assess any possible local differentiation, in relation to spatial isolation, resulting from random genetic drift brought on by reduced population size and lack of migration between geographically isolated populations. Following results attained from methods including: multivariate analysis based on asymmetric Soerensen similarity, φ_ST-statistics, and analysis of molecular variance, we were able to conclude that there is a high within-population variability (84.4%) and a weak, but significant, differentiation among populations (φ_ST=0.17). A matrix correlation between genetic and geographical distances revealed that geographical differentiation was reflected in the RAPD profile (Mantel test: r=0.47,p=0.002). Further significant correlations were noted between population size and both percentage of polymorphic loci (p=0.02) and genetic diversity (p=0.03). An additional analysis of seed production showed that mean seed set, seed number, and mean seed mass per population could be attributed to differences in population size, whereas only seed mass was related to genetic variation.     

牛背梁自然保护区食肉目和偶蹄目动物的区系特征与生态分布

牛背梁自然保护区(108°45′~109°04′E,33°47′~33°56′N)位于秦岭山脉东段,地跨秦岭南北坡。采用样线调查法和访问调查法,于2003年5月~2004年8月,对该保护区食肉动物及偶蹄动物的区系特征和生态分布进行了研究。该保护区共有18种食肉动物及偶蹄动物,其中属我国级、级重点保护动物的兽类分别有2种和7种。分析表明,保护区的有蹄类动物物种丰富,秦岭分布的有蹄类在该区域均有分布,但食肉动物种数仅占整个秦岭地区的45.5%。这些兽类中,属于东洋界的兽类有12种,占66.7%;属古北界的仅1种,占5.5%;其余5种为广布种,占27.8%。牛背梁保护区在动物地理区划上应属古北界和东洋界物种交汇的区域,且为东洋界逐渐向古北界过渡的区域。分析该区域食肉动物及偶蹄动物的生态分布发现,这些物种的垂直分布幅度有很大的差异。垂直分布幅度在海拔高差1300m以上、1000m左右、450~700m之间的物种各占1/3。结果还表明,区内这些兽类物种的丰富度随海拔的升高具有先升后降的垂直变化规律。不论是秦岭南坡还是北坡,分布在海拔1800~2200m区域的兽类物种最多,所占比例大于80%;而在海拔2600m以上区域,兽类种数降至最少,仅占50%左右。兽类丰富度的海拔梯度也体现于这些兽类在各植被类型中的分布上。中山针阔叶混交林中分布的兽类种数最多,而在中低山落叶阔叶林、亚高山针叶林及亚高山灌丛草甸中分布的兽类则较少。     

草鱼日粮中小肽对幼龄草鱼生长性能的影响

本实验研究了草鱼日粮中不同种类与含量的小肽对幼龄草鱼生长性能的影响。 4 5 0尾 3.74± 0 .2 3g的草鱼分为 6组 ,每组 75尾鱼 ,每 2 5尾鱼饲养于 0 .2 5m3 的水族箱中 ,每组设 3个平行水族箱。试验 1、2、3、4、5组日粮中分别添加 0 .2 5 %、0 .5 %、1%的虾蛋白肽和 0 .5 %鱼粉水解物、0 .5 %酶解酪蛋白 ,对照组为 1%的鱼粉。水温为 2 7.6±3.1℃ ,试验期为 5 6d。结果表明 :(1)试验各组草鱼其相对生长率、饲料效率、饲料蛋白保留效率和血浆中钙、磷、镁含量与小肽总量均高于对照组 ,与对照组有显著性差异 ;(2 )草鱼日粮中最适宜的虾蛋白肽添加量为 0 .5 % ;(3)草鱼日粮中添加一定比例的小肽可提高饲料表观消化率和蛋白消化率 ,增加血液循环中生物活性肽的含量 ,增加体内氮沉积 ,减少肝胰脏和肠系膜脂肪储积 ,从而提高草鱼对日粮中蛋白质的利用率和机体自身蛋白质合成能力。